The Speed of Light: A Novel

Written by Elizabeth Rosner

Narrated by Elizabeth Rosner, Ana Clements and Craig Van Ness

Every family has a story. Every story, eventually, must be told.

For most of their lives, Julian Perel and his sister, Paula, lived in a house cast in silence, witnesses to a father struggling with a devastating secret too painful to share. Though their father took his demons to the grave, his past refuses to rest.

As adults, brother and sister struggle to find their voices. A scientist governed by numbers and logic, Julian now lives an ordered life of routine and seclusion. In contrast, Paula has entered the world as eagerly as Julian retracts from it. An aspiring opera singer, she is always moving, buoyant with sound.

Yet both their lives begin to change on a Wednesday, miercoles, the day that sounds like miracles.

Before embarking on a European opera tour, Paula asks her housekeeper, Sola, to stay at her place--and to look after Julian in the apartment above. Sola, too, has a story.

As Paula uncovers pieces of her father's early life in Budapest and the horrifying truth of his past, Julian bears witness to Sola's story--revelations that help all three learn how to both surrender and revere the shadows that have followed them for so long.

The Speed of Light is a powerful novel about three unforgettable souls who overcome the tragedies of the past to reconnect with one another and the world around them. Elizabeth Rosner has created a beautifully interwoven story of love and redemption that proves the pain of the untold story is far greater than even the most difficult truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Author's Republic
• Release date: Mar 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781950144662

Elizabeth Rosner

Elizabeth Rosner is a bestselling novelist, essayist, and poet. She is the author of several novels and a poetry collection. Some of her works include, Blue Nude, Electric City, and The Speed of Light. Her essays have appeared in Elle, Hadassah Magazine, HuffPost, and numerous anthologies.

Reviews for The Speed of Light

[suesbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This story of a brother, sister, and a survivor of a south american massacre kept my interest. the author switched the perspective from one character to another constantly and usually after only a few short paragraphs. i was able to know and feel close to all characters and other people mentioned.

[marksouza · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's a story of wounded souls beautifully told. Elizabeth Rosner is literary talent who weaves words into Louvre-worthy images. A sister pursuing a music career abroad must leave her phobic brother. Both share scars handed down from previous generations. Before she leaves, she hires a housekeeper with fresh scars of her own. It's an easy book to fall in love with.

[jentifer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A light, pleasant novel; the prose flows naturally and the story is very engaging. There is a demarcation between characters (different fonts for the three main characters) that renders the text very accessible. I enjoyed this and found it a perfect Sunday afternoon read.